I'm a firm believer the main people who are pushing these new rules about visors and helmet removal and such: 1) Have never competitively played the game 2) Have hopped on the NFL concussion bandwagon without understanding or caring to compare or appreciate the possible differences between the two sports 3) Due to #1, see fighting as a barbaric activity and not a part of the game that allows players to self-regulate their own sport.

On the great list of things we as fans can control (i.e. not much)... this falls outside of that.

And I think fighting will continue no matter what. See, e.g., Backes v. Toews from 2010 I think it was. Both wearing visors. Both went. Hell, college players fight from time to time with full cages. I don't think it'll ever leave the game. Or so I hope. In about a decade or so though it'll be pretty tough to find two enforcers without visors

Fighting should always be in hockey. (Frank) all this player safety bullshit about the helmets during fighting.

So, the 3 players that died within a very short stretch a couple of summers ago, we don't take them into account? One was self medicating, the others died via suicide. I know you can't link fighting and their deaths in a straight line, but the more research shows, the more we see repeated blows to the head cause mood swings, depression, concussions, etc. All three of those guys were grinders/fighters. It's a small sample size, I know. I'm all for keeping fighting in the game. But in this day and age, the NHL has to address safety concerns when it comes to head/brain injuries. It's not 'hopping on the NFL's bandwagon' so much as taking the proper measure to use the medical research they've got and make the right decisions. If they don't, they'll face a much larger backlash than they already are, not counting lawsuits, etc.

I know I'm going to get ripped for this. It doesn't mean I support 'sissifying' the sport or whatever you call it. But you can't ignore what's out there, it's irresponsible as a league to do so. Every sport is taking more precaution when it comes to head and brain injuries, for the NHL to not do so would be another black eye for the league. The NFL, the country's most powerful sport is being torn to shreds for their behavior and disregard for the signs. So for the NHL not to look into this information, it would be a huge misstep, in my opinion.

Fighting should always be in hockey. (Frank) all this player safety bullshit about the helmets during fighting.

So, the 3 players that died within a very short stretch a couple of summers ago, we don't take them into account? One was self medicating, the others died via suicide. I know you can't link fighting and their deaths in a straight line, but the more research shows, the more we see repeated blows to the head cause mood swings, depression, concussions, etc. All three of those guys were grinders/fighters. It's a small sample size, I know. I'm all for keeping fighting in the game. But in this day and age, the NHL has to address safety concerns when it comes to head/brain injuries. It's not 'hopping on the NFL's bandwagon' so much as taking the proper measure to use the medical research they've got and make the right decisions. If they don't, they'll face a much larger backlash than they already are, not counting lawsuits, etc.

I know I'm going to get ripped for this. It doesn't mean I support 'sissifying' the sport or whatever you call it. But you can't ignore what's out there, it's irresponsible as a league to do so. Every sport is taking more precaution when it comes to head and brain injuries, for the NHL to not do so would be another black eye for the league. The NFL, the country's most powerful sport is being torn to shreds for their behavior and disregard for the signs. So for the NHL not to look into this information, it would be a huge misstep, in my opinion.

Go ahead, yell at me all you want.

From what I've read, an overwhelming majority of the players also side with the fans on this issue, even though they are the ones that the league is trying to protect from themselves. The people pushing for and making these rules do not understand the game, and therefore do not understand the way of life as a player and the many intricacies that go in to competing in a hockey game. As a player I would feel pretty pissed if a bunch of suits were tinkering with the game that I had dedicated my entire life to just to appease a crowd of people who also probably don't understand the sport. The players are fully aware of the dangers that they submit themselves to and the potential consequences. Theirs is the only outcry that should be considered, not some executives trying to maintain their image in a PC world.

Who is online

You cannot post new topics in this forumYou cannot reply to topics in this forumYou cannot edit your posts in this forumYou cannot delete your posts in this forumYou cannot post attachments in this forum